22-24/06/2010, Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen (DK)

The 72^nd IIRB Congress 2010 was held the 22^nd to 24^th June 2010 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Copenhagen (DK) with about 250 participants. The congress consisted of two indoor days for presentations (22^nd and 23^rd June) with a poster session on the 22^nd June, and a field excursion on the 24^th June.

Sugar beet - a crop for the future

The sugar beet sector has undergone major changes within the last years. With the new sugar market regime, all links in the sugar chain, from sugar beet growers to sugar producing companies, had to face new conditions, prices and costs. Despite these changes, sugar beet has maintained its position in European crop rotations, with yields rising faster than in most other crops. It has a justified place as a world supplier of sugar from an economic, environmental and social point of view. The diversification in the use of sugar beet and sugar, and new agronomic developments and techniques prove that sugar beet is a crop ready for the future.

Congress sessions

In the Opening session, invited speakers outlined the competitiveness of the beet crop, taking into account both economic and environmental aspects. The technical sessions "Beet plant potential", "Plant protection challenges" and "Soil, seed and management improvements" were dedicated do different aspects of beet cultivation. The congress closed with a discussion on the future of European sugar beet cultivation.